Dads and Dipes: The Art of Persuasion

I’ve always wanted to cloth diaper because I wanted to help save the planet. However, my husband hasn’t always shared my enthusiasm for environmentalism; I knew I’d need my best persuasion skills to get him on board. Just in case my skills didn’t cut it and cloth diapers went over like recycling, I was fully prepared to play the “I’m pregnant! Do what I want!” card. I figured if it came down to it, I would take on the brunt of the responsibility myself until I could wrangle him into doing them too.

Since I didn’t actually want all of the diaper responsibility for our upcoming little bundle of joy, I carefully planned my strategy for getting him to see how wonderful cloth diapering could be. I decided my best bet was to go for maximum impact right away and tell him how it would improve our bank account.

I initially approached the topic armed with lots of financial research. To my surprise, our first discussion about cloth diapers didn’t even start with the questions I expected, (like, how much will it cost?) To my benefit, he had no experience with any diapers, let alone cloth, so he mainly wanted to know what would be involved. I explained that it would require us to do more laundry, but they would be so much better for the baby, our bank account, and the planet.

The first time we talked about cloth diapers, I had very little understanding of modern cloth diapers, but I did the best I could to explain prefolds, covers, and laundering methods. In hindsight, I really am surprised he was willing to listen to me at all since I didn’t even try to win him over with the easiest types of cloth diapers!

He asked me to do more research and give him details. So, I learned all I could about all-in-ones, all-in-twos, fitteds, one-size diapers, detergents, wet bags, where to buy diapers, etc. While I was spending all this time doing internet research, fate was smiling on me and making my persuasion job a lot easier. Our friends started cloth diapering!

About the same time I was feeling ready to bring them up again, my husband comes home from work and says, “Bill and Jacqui are cloth diapering. If Bill can handle it, then I’m sure I can.” It was that simple. He was willing to cloth diaper. It just became a matter of what kind and how many. I’ve always known the best way to get my husband to do something, is to convince him that another guy will do it too. I just never imagined that this strategy would work for cloth diapering. (In case you are wondering, we bought the same diapers and the same number that Bill and Jacqui did.)

If your husband needs a little convincing from another guy, I’m willing to lend you my husband. He’s now a bona fide cloth diaper enthusiast. He’s helped me diaper AND launder from day one. He loves them and feels just as good about our decision to cloth diaper as I do.

I will also say I am extremely proud of my husband. Cloth diapering has had its challenges and he’s been willing to tackle them all with me. In fact, he probably does the dirty diaper laundry more than I do! ☺

20 comments:

We are being leaders for our friends, showing them the way of cloth diapers! i have a 'real life' friend and an internet friend who are interested, and my husband's closest work buddy and his wife are thinking along those lines. It doesn't mean we will win any or all of them over, but they are thinking about it! My husband hates disposables now, and insists that if we have another baby, he's taking the cloth diapers to the hospital and will wash and dry them every night if he has to! How's that for commitment!

I think it's funny, because my husband was actually the one to suggest cloth diapering to me. I used to use bumGenius diapers on a baby boy I babysat and he had noticed how easy they were, but it didn't even really occur to me until he suggested it. Since I do all the laundry in our household, I was a bit hesitant at first, but thankfully he kept bringing it up until I felt comfortable with it.

It's so much easier when you have a good support system, isn't it? On my first little one I wanted to CD, but with no access to the internet at the time and a family full of people who's automatically respond with 'Why do you want to do that?! Disposables are so much easier.' It ended up not happening. I'm so glad we're sharing a large home with a couple that have grown to be mine and my hubby's best friends in the past decade. I've had the support to get my research done and my initial stash is already ordered and waiting for my little one to arrive at the end of this month!

My best friend is also expecting just two months behind me, and was gung-ho for cloth diapering even before I had my first one. Even though my family is still sceptical and thinks I'll give up on it once I see 'how it really is'. (*eyeroll*) At least I have a live-in family that are super supportive of how I want my little ones to be diapered! I was almost sad that my first was already potty trained before we moved in together! XD I could have switched with him and already been started!

I've been so blessed to have a hubby who is open to cloth diapering…as long as I take care of the dirty laundry! Ha! He hates disposables as much as cloth, so I suppose either option is great for him! Thanks for your post!

I am due in April with my first, and have already purchased a huge selection of cloth diapers. My hubby seems to be onboard at this stage…he even gets the cute ones out to show friends!lol … although he is a little worried about outings and travel. Hopefully we will never have to bring disposables into the house at all! Fingers crossed!Interestingly, everyone we mention that we are going to use cloth, are either negative about it, or place bets on how long it will last..however these people have never tried it before….how narrow-mined some people can be!I look forward to showing them all it can be done..and easily! 🙂

I'm so glad to hear this! I was worried my dh wouldn't be on board with cloth diapering, but I think he's decided it's a good idea! I went with the "It'll save us money" first too, and that seemed to help. DH doesn't know any dad who cloth diapers… Wish we did!!

It is so wonderful to have a husband's support, especially when it comes to cloth diapering. My husband has gone along with cloth diapering from day one because I was excited about it. If diapers come up in conversation he enthusiastically tells people that cloth diapers catch the poop so well! Now if I can just get him to remember the laundry routine…

My husband loves cloth diapers too. He helps with the diaper laundry sometimes (though I usually do it because I LIKE to do it) and even my dad knows how to wash cloth diapers (he always asks me to leave a few at their house 'just in case' so he washes some there on occasion)

I am so grateful for my husband! He started out just humoring me, but now loves our cloth diapers almost as much as I do, even trying to convince his friend it's the way to go. The only thing he doesn't like is trying to match up inserts with diapers when he doesn laundry, since I have bought so many different brands- so, stuffing the pocket diapers is my job, but he's willing to do the rest!

Took almost a year, and a completely broken down cost analysis of GDiapers vs. Cloth vs. Disposables, for my husband to listen to reason. He was mostly worried about the smell, but laundered properly and washed promptly, it's never been a problem.

Is sure is wonderful when your husband agrees with you. I know my husband is a big fan of cloth diapers and the fact we haven't had to buy disposable diapers and he appreciates the work i put into keeping them clean.

My husband is totally on board with cloth and will even pull them out to show to curious friends and relatives. He changes diapers with ease, although I do the poo rinsing. 🙂 He's especially happy about the cost savings. aboverubies15 at yahoo dot com